Business activities were at a standstill in parts of the Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State as residents of the Ogale community protested against what they described as decades of environmental pollution caused by oil exploration.
The demonstration which happened on Thursday took place at an SPDC oil manifold in Ogale, the site of the latest spill that occurred on February 2.
Protesters carried placards and chanted slogans, demanding urgent remediation and compensation for the environmental damage.
The protest coincided with a legal battle in the United Kingdom where the Ogale community has filed a lawsuit against Shell over alleged pollution of their land and water sources.
Speaking to Channels Television at the protest ground, the Paramount Ruler of Alaken Ogale, HRH Ake Oluka, emphasized the long-standing grievances of his people.
He said that several oil spills have devastated their means of livelihood.
READ ALSO: [Oil Exploration] Tinubu Means Well For Ogoniland, Says Minister
Ogoni environmental activist, Celestine Akpobari, and the Ogale Youth President, Noble Nwoliu, also voiced their concerns, questioning the inclusion of every community polluted in the UNEP report. They commended the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP). However, the duo insisted that much more needs to be done to restore their environment, alleging that the pollution is daily.
The demonstration lasted for about five hours but no SPDC did not address the protesters.
Undeterred, the people of Ogale vowed to continue their fight for environmental justice until concrete action is taken to clean up their land and provide adequate compensation for years of damage.
They also hope to get justice in the case they filed before a UK court against Shell.
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Items recovered from the factory included a cache of firearms and other incriminating materials.
Items recovered at the scene included a blood-soaked jacket and expended AK-47 ammunition.